Slaughtering pen



A. WNETRZAK SLAUGHTERING PEN Jan. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 INVENTOR. 7

Jan. 9, 1951 WNETRZAK 2,537,387

SLAUGHTERING PEN Filed Nov. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \v W n Q s n a IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This is a continuation-in-part of an abandoned application for patent on a slaughtering pen, filed February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,690.

The present invention relates to slaughtering apparatus, and has for its main object the provision of a pen into which animals to be slaughtered are driven, with means provided therein for engaging the hind legs of the animals and raising the same into a substantially horizontal position so as to engage the legs by a suitable hoist for hanging an animal preparatory to the slaugh tering operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a slaughtering pen which may be adjustable in length for receiving therewithin animals of different sizes such as sheep, pigs and cattle.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means movable over the pen for engaging the buttock of an animal preventing its rearing or backing prior to and during the operation of the device for raising the animals hind less.

A still further object of the present invention is-the provision of means for varying the height at which the leg raising device should operate, in conformity with the height of an animal on which the same is to operate.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of pneumatic'and manual actuating means for leg raising device.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forminga part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a slaughtering pen in accordance with the present invention, the view having been taken substantially on line l-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the leg raising device in an operative position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the pen, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of pneumatic actuating means for the leg raising device;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of manually operable actuating means for leg raising device; and.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the latter means.

In safely and quickly handling cattle and other animals for slaughtering, much time is lost and much injury is suffered by the animal handlers during the process of engaging the hind legs and handling the animals to be slaughtered. By employing the present invention, an animal becomes helpless as soon as it enters a slaughtering pen, constituting a part of the invention. As soon as the animal enters the pen the leg raising device is set in operation for lifting animals hind legs and bringing them to a substantially horizontal position for conditioning the same to be grasped by a vertical lift or hoist. The lift is mounted upon a conveyor which slopes downwardly, carrying the animal by gravity away from the pen to, be slaughtered so that a new lot of animals may be driven into the pen.

Referring in detail to the present drawings there is'shown a pen having floor l0, rigid side Walls II and movable end wall l2. Said end wall is adjustable to accommodate animals of different lengths in the pen, and on the inside surface of the said end wall is reflector l3, preferably made of polished stainless steel or other similar material to confuse an animal by its own reflection. The end wall is made adjustable in any suitable manner such as by fastening plates I4 near the top and bottom at the outer side of said wall I2 near the ends thereof and adjacent side walls ll. Each plate I4 has slot 15 through which fastening bolt l6 extends from each of side walls II, and which receives fastening nut ll thereon for holding said end wall in any adjusted position in conformity with the length of an animal to be received in the pen.

Floor [0 of the slaughter pen is on the same horizontal level as slaughter house floor [8. The lower end of the slaughter pen may be countersunk below the slaughter house floor I8. Said slaughter house floor I8 may surround the slaughter pen on all of its sides, or optionally, portion of the slaughter house floor l8 may be removed in the area adjacent the front end of the slaughter pen, and in lieu thereof'ramp l9, which is on the same horizontal level as floors I0 and [8, may

be substituted.

Affixed to the front end of each side wall II is guiding rail 20, the two of said rails receiving board 21, for guiding the same in its upward movement. Affixed to each end of said board 2| is cord 22, passed over pulleys 23, which are mounted upon the upper ends of side walls II. Counter-weights 24 suspended upon the opposite ends of cords 22 assist said board 2| for upright shifting movement.

Locking bar 25 in the form of a bail, by its extremities 25 is passed through side walls H.

g The outer ends of said extremities 26 which project beyond the outer faces of side walls H receive in a rigid engagement crank handles 2i, by means of which the bail of said bar 25 may be brought to an inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, or to its operative position illustrated in Fig. 2. In the inoperative position, past the vertical plane, said ball 25 is supported by stop pins 28 projecting from the inner faces of side walls I l and engaging the transverse arms of said 1001:- ing bar 25. In the operative position said locking bar is swung into the opposite direction from said stop pins 28 to engage 'the animals buttock as indicated in Fig. 2.

A short distame from the front end of floor I is a transverse slot 29 made therein, in which leg elevating board 35 is seated for vertieal movement. Said leg elevating board 3 9 has bar "3i extending therefrom, at its upper end, providing trunnions or pins at its opposite ends which pass through guides or slots 32 made in side walls ii. 5

This board to is shiftable forwardly of the hind legs of the animals in the slaughtering pen, and in an upright direction, and substantially along the f-pl-ane oi the corner defined by the animals hind leg and its flank. Mechanism is provided for shifting said ieg elevating board 3 9 into a sub stantially horiaonal position as the same has-substantially reached the upper ends of said slots for the purpose of bearing against 'animais legs "in the region of the stifies in order to'shift the hind legs to a substantially horizontal position, illustrated in Fig. 2.

The mechanism for operating said leg elevating board 36 in a manner hereina-bove specified includes plunger cylinder 33 secured to the outer face of each sidewall H and below floor i8, and each "having a plunger secured therein with an outwardly extending 'p iunger rod 38 in Contact with the adjacent "endof mounting bar '35. Pressure is applied to the (lower end of each cylinder 33 through pipes 35 and 3E. Connecting with pipe 3'5 in 'a central'relation, is manifold 37, which is disposed in a parallel relation with pipe 35, and extends horizontally through one of said side Walls H and then vertically through 'and above floor i8. There said manifold is provided with valve 38, which maybe provided with bleed-cock 319 for gradually lowering bar 3i after it has been operatively raised and the valve turned on. Fluid,'such as steam or compressed air is supplied through supply pipe 9 with which said manifold 31' connects. Since said manifold 31 connects centrally with pipe 35 equal amount of pressure will be applied at bothends'oi board '39. Manifold 31 is preferably twice the diameter of the diameter of pipe 35 in order that the pressure in pipes 35 and 3% and in manifold 31 maybe uniform. v

The leg elevating board 35! is shifted in slots 32 to a height depending upon the height of any animals in the pen. The extent of the upward shifting movement-of board 38 is therefore regulated by means of gage plates ll each adjustabl-y secured to the outer face-of each side wall H by means of vertical slot #32 and fastening bolts extending'through the slot and into the side wall. Each plate i! is provided with flange iexten'ding from the lower end of each plate #5! and in a transverse relation with slot 32, for the purpose of limiting the upward movement'of leg board 4 supports 3!, by raisingor lowering plate 4] upon bolts 53.

Means for inclining leg board 39 into a hori zontal position as said board approaches said flanges 44 in its upward shifting movement, for engaging animals legs along the regions of the stifies thereof, as is seen in Fig. 2, includes an eccentric or cam 45, which is rigidly secured to supports 3i by means of bolts 46 which are in a threaded engagement with said supports BI, and which by their heads clamp said cams '45 to the ends of said supports 3i. As board 38 shifts upwardly, the free ends of said cams 45 come in contact with flanges 34, and as the pressure in cylinders 33 upon plunger rods 36 continues, cams 45 are forced to shift angularly, with the arcuate edges thereof coming in contact with the undersurfaces of flanges 44. This operation brings cams E5 to a substantially horizontal position, as is seen in Fig. 2, and since said cams 45 are ina rigid connection with board t ll through'supports' 35, the angular shifting movement of said cams 45 is imparted to board 30, thereby bringing said board into a horizontal position for engaging and pressing against the stifle regions of an animals hind legs for bringingthe latter into a substantially horizontal position, illustrated in Fig. 2. Preceding this operation of board '33 looking bar 25 is brought down upon and rearwardly o'ija'n animal's buttock. Board '2"! i's'then brought into a downward position below floor 'ID 11 1011181. that the same may not interfere with the rearward shiftingmovement of an animals hind legs as the same are shifted into a substantially horizontal position by the action of board '31] as herein.- above described.

It is noted that when the animals (have been driven into the pen board M is then-shifted up.- wardly in order to prevent their rearing and for conditioning them for proper posture While in the pen and for proper operation of board 39. When locking bar 25 has been brought-down tor preventing a-nimals grearing, board 21 is then shifted downwardly and board '33 is set iii-opera,-

* tion for the purposes hereinabove described.

y virtu of the foregoin successive op rations, board 2| being a downwardly shifted position, thereis nothing to interfere foranimals legs to extend :beyond the front end of the pen and past the plane ofshiiting'of board-21. is further observed that looking bar 2 5 While hearing downwardly upon animalis hind legs in the buttock region 'irom'above assists the function of board 353 while the latter "exerts .pressure 'iupon animal s hind legs from below in order to bring the same into a substantiallyhorizontal position. Of course, during the hind legs raising :operation the animal supports itself upon its front legs.

When animalshinq legs haue been conditioned as aforesaid, a number of conveyers 4'1 movable on overhead track 33, are moved opposite'the rear end of each animal. Each conveyer carries an electrically or pneumatically operable Moist #9; including a vertically shifta-ble :bar :59 and cross bar 56' carried thereby. i-he latte-riszplflvidfid at each of its end with 'hooksor-flexible loops'fil adapted to be equally'en'gaged'withthe rear ihOOfS or feet of an animal.

The entire hoist track 43 may be -raised by means of end supports 52, movable upwardly to swing the animals by means of their hind legs and suspend them above the pen. SI'rao'k 'dfllis preferably inc'lined downwardlyso thatconveyors will roll by gravity downwardly on track-48.

thus removing the animals from the slaughter pen.

' At the lower end of track 48 is stop arm 53 pivoted on the adjacent support 52 and held in position adjacent said track by spring 54 surrounding the outer end of bar 55 extending through stop arm 53 and pressing said arm into the path of one of the conveyor rollers onthe track. oppositely extending release arm 56 is connected at the pivot end of arm 53 so that when the free end of release arm'56 is moved downwardly by pull cord 51, stop arm 53 is moved out of the path of the conveyor roller against the pressure of spring 54 allowing the conveyors to move downwardly by gravity on track 48,

thereby clearing the space above the slaughter pen.

The slaughter pen is first adjusted in length by varying the position of end wall i2 depending upon the length of the animals to be slaughtered. A proper number of animals are then driven into the pen and arranged parallel with side walls l| thereof with the animals hind quarters adjacent the open end of the pen, in the proximity of board 2|. of arranging the animals in the pen board 2| may be raised, but as soon as locking'bar has been brought downwardly to engage the animals buttocks, and prior to the operation of board 30, said board 2! is shifted into its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2. When animals hind legs have been brought to a substantially horizontal position by the action of board 30, the

legs of each animal are then engaged by loops 5| of the elevating conveyer, and the animals are then all bodily raised by the conveyers free from the pen and are then*moved away from the pen, which is then ready for reception of the next group of animals.

As soon as loops 5| have been engaged with the animals hind .legs locking bar 25 is raised into its inoperative position in engagement with stop pins 28. Thereupon hoist 49 is set in oper- During the process to its operative position, crank handle 6| is turned into a counter clock-wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. This operation turns link 59 into an upward direction, which in turn exerts pressure upon support 3| for shifting the same upwardly within slot 32 for raising said board 30. Otherwise the operation of board and cams'45 is the same as hereinabove described. Preferably there should be two of the manually operable devices hereinabove described, one coacting with each support 3!, at each end of board 30. e

To maintain board 30 in its operative position, shown in Fig. 2, ratchet wheel 62 is keyed to shaft 58 and adjacent the outer face of side wall Pawl 63 pivoted upon side wall engages the teeth of ratchet wheel 62, and maintains shaft 53 locked for preventing its rotation into ation for upward shifting of bar 5|], cross bar 5' v and loops 5| with the animal suspended upon the latter. During this time, pressure on the leg elevating board 30 is taken off, permitting the pressure in cylinders 33 to gradually spend itself through bleed-cock 39, for returning said board 3|) to a vertical position. As soon as cams become disengaged from flanges 44, during the downward shifting of said board 30, the latter assumes vertical position due to gravity, bringing cams 45 to the same position by virtue of rigid connection therewith through supports 3|, until said board 38 reaches its lowermost position in slot 29, and flush with floor H) of the pen. By the time the animals front extremities, including their heads, reach said slot 29, by thev operation of hoist 49, said board 30 remains in its inoperative, retracted position within slot 29, as seen in Fig. 1.

The mechanism for shifting leg elevating board 30, operable manually, is shown in Figs.'5 and 6,

the opposite direction when board 3 has become elevated. When it becomes necessary to bring said board 3% to an inoperative position, pawl ter houses. 35

Hooks 64 affixed to the edges of side walls ll, adjacent their upper ends, limit the upward shifting movement of board 2|.

When animals legs have been brought to a substantially horizontal position by the action of leg board 3|), with loops 5| in engagement with the legs, hoist 49 should then be slightly raised, prior to the lowering of board 30, in order to take off the slack from loops 5| so as to prevent shaking off of said loops 5| by the animal.

As is apparent from the hereinabove description, one of the'advantages of raising the animals legs by leg board as preparatory to the engagement thereof by hoist 49, resides in the fact that it eliminates the necessity'of stooping or bending down by the animal handlers.

It will also be seen that animals of various sizes may be quickly and easily handled without danger to the operators and without unnecessarily exciting the animals. Although a single pen is shown, a larger number of similar pens may bearranged in alinement to be served by the same track and conveyer system.

While there is described herein preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a slaughtering apparatus, a device for raising an animals legs to a substantially horizontalposition for facilitating the engagement thereof by a hoist, comprising a housing having upstanding side walls with vertical guides thereon, Y a board positioned within said housing, extensions on said board slidably and rotatably connected to said guides, means connected to said board and housing for shifting said board in an upright direction, eccentric means on said board, means carried by said housing for limiting the upright shifting movement of said board,

- thereof by :a hoist, comprising a housing having upstanding side walls with vertical guides thereon, a board positioned within said housing, extensions on said board Tslidably and :-rotatably connected to said guides, means connected to 'said board and housing for shifting said board in an upright direction, eccentric :nre'ans on said board, adjustable means carried by said housing for limiting the upright :shif-ting movement of said :board, and adjustable means on said =housing for imparting an angular shifting movement to said eccentric means and said board svithcne of its horizontal marginal portions as its :axis for bringing "said board to -a substantially hori zontal position, said :last named means being :located the ipath-of movement'ofsaid eccentric means adjacent its upper limit of travel so :as $0 eon-tact said eccentric means to cause said board to rotate as it approaches the limiter its upright shifting movement.

3. In a slaughtering apparatus, a device for raising an animals \legs'to a substantially .horizontal position :for ;facilitating the engagement thereof by a hoist, comprising a housing having upstanding :sides with :guide members thereon, a *board positioned within said housing, -lateral1,-y

reiitending projections on said board slidably and t ctatably connected to said guide members, :means connected to said board-for shifting said kboard in-an upright-directionga vertically adjust- .able plate on said housing tor limiting the upright shitting :movement of said'rboard, and .a =cam on said board, said plate :being positioned on saidhousingin the path cf-movement of said cameo as to contact said cam tocausesaid-board to 'rotateas it approaches the .-limit\of. its upright shifting movement for imparting an angular shifting movement to said board :for bringing the latter to a substantially :horizontal position.

'4. In a slaughtering ;pen,including :a wall having a vertical slot therein, a-leg board iguidedin the slot in said wall for vertical and rotary shitting movement, means connected to said board for shifting said :leg board 161 131631135, a :plate carried by said wall, said ,plate being adjustable in a vertical direction, and a foam carried by :said deg 'board, said plateebeing located on :said avail in the1pathofmovement of said cam so was ito contact said cam assaid leg 'rboard approaches the limit of its upright shifting "movement for turning a said leg board into a "substantially horicontal position.

5. In a slaughtering pen having op'po'site :side member's adapted to receive an animal thereb'e'tween. a leg board ertending transversely between the side members, trunni'ons at "oppositeends of the leg 'boa'r'cLmea'ris"engagingthe trunnicns andrn'ounting the leg board "for turn "ing movement and for bodily upward .movement, 'abutments above the leg board, "and projections 'fccnnected with the leg board in position to isaid sibntments zu pon upward .moueinent thereof to cause turning of the leg board.

in 1a slaughtering pen :havi-ng upright side members, upright mounting means on said side members, a leg aboard rota-tably :and slidabl-y mounted on said mounting means, eccentric means 011 said :leg :board and movable therewith, projecting means on at least one of said side members located in the path of movement of said eccentric :m'eans ad acent the upper limit ol travel thereof so as to contact the eccentric means to cause said leg board .to rotate as said board approaches its upper limit of travel, and :means connected to said leg board .for shifting said :leg :board upwardly on-saidmounting means.

'7. ,In 2a slaughtering pen having upright side members, said side members having substantially vertical slets therein, a :leg board, .a laterally extending projection on each side of said board extending intoasloton :one of said side members ,for vertically and .rotatably mounting said .leg board in-said .pen, .means connected to said leg board for vertically shifting said leg board in saidipeni, a cam .on said leg board and .movable therewith, and .cam operating means on one of said .side members located in the path of move ment of said cam adjacent the upper limit of travel .ther-eofso as to contact the cam to cause saidleg board to rotate as said board approaches its upper limit of travel.

8; In a slaughtering ,pen lhaving upr'ight side members, substantially vertical mounting means on said side members, aleg board rotatably and slidab'ly mounted on said mounting means, eccentric means on said legb'o'arii and movable therewith, projecting means 'adjustably mounted onat least one of said side members located in the path of movement of said eccentric means adjacent the upper limit of travel thereof *so as to contact the eccentric means to "cause said .leg board to rotate as said board approaches its upper limit of travel, and means connected to said leg board for vertically shifting said leg boardionsaid vertical mounting 'means.

93111 a slaughtering pen having upright side members, said side members having substantially vertical slots therein, 'a leg board, a laterally extending projection on each *side "of said board extending into "a slot 'on one of said side members for -vertically "and =rotatably mounting said legboard in said "pen, means connected to said -'leg board for vertically shifting sai'd leg board in said' pen, acam'on said leg b'oardand movable therewith, and cam "operating means 'adjus'tably mounted on one of said side members located in the path of movement of said cam *adjacent the upper limit or travel thereof so as to -conta'ct the cam to*cause sa'iil' leg 'board to rotate-as said board approaches its upper limit or travel.

1'0. A slaughtering pen comprising a 'pair of upstanding side walls, 'e'ach of said walls having 'averticals'lot*thereinfla leg-board rotatably and slidably mounted in said slots, a cam on said leg "board, 'cam actuating means *onon'e of said side '"walls in position to "co-act with said cam to "cause said leg board to rotate, and means connected *to said leg board 'for 'vertically sliding sa'idboard in the "slots in saidside walls to raise "said'board in the pen and 'tobring the cam into contact with said cam actuating means.

1"1. A slaughtering pen comprising a pair of upstanding 's'ide 'walls and 'a floor therein, each or said =wa'lls having a vertical "slo't therein and said floor 'having a transverse "slot therein, a leg board slidablvand rotatably mounted in-theslots in said side walls and slidably extending into the slot in said floor, a cam on said leg board, cam actuating means on one of said side walls in position to co-act with said cam to cause said leg board to rotate, and actuating means connected to said leg board for vertically sliding said board in said slots to raise said board in the pen and to bring the cam into contact with the cam actuating means.

12. A slaughtering pen comprising a pair of upstanding side walls, each of said walls having a vertical slot therein, a leg board rotatably and slidably mounted in said slots, means connected to said leg board for vertically shifting said leg board in said pen, a cam on said leg board, cam actuating means on one of said side walls located in the path of movement of said cam adjacent its upper limit of travel in position to coact with said cam to cause said leg board to rotate, and a bail rotatably mounted on said side walls adjacent said cam actuating means and positioned so as to bear against the back of an animal standing in said pen, said bail being positioned in said pen in respect to the leg board so as to co-act therewith to clamp the back and legs of an animal therebetween.

13. In a slaughtering pen having upright side members, said side members having substantially vertical slots therein, a device for turning the hind legs of an animal standing therein rearwardly into a substantially horizontal position preparatory to the grasping of the legs by a hoist, comprising a bail rotatably mounted on said upright side members adjacent the upper ends of said slots in position to bear against the buttocks of said animal, a leg engaging member having laterally extending projections on each side thereof extending into the slots in said side members for slidably and rotatably mounting said leg engaging member in said pen, said leg engaging member being located transversely of said pen in position so as to be positioned between the fore legs and hind legs of an animal standing therein, means connected to said leg board for vertically shifting said leg engaging member in said pen; eccentric means on one of said projections and movable therewith, and projecting means on one of said side members located in the path of travel of said eccentric means adjacent the upper limit of travel thereof so as to contact the eccentric means to cause said leg engaging member to turn into a substantially horizontal plane toward the stifles of said animal as said leg board approaches its upper limit of travel, the leg member and bail embracing the stifles of said animal therebetween.

14. In a slaughtering apparatus having upstanding side members, a device for turning the hind legs of an animal standing in said apparatus rearwardly into a substantially horizontal position for facilitating the engagement thereof by a hoist comprising a buttocks engaging member rotatably mounted on the side members in position to bear against the hind quarters of the animal, upright guide means on said side members, a leg engaging member rotatably and slidably mounted on the guide means, means connected to said leg engaging member for shifting said leg engaging member vertically, means carried by said leg engaging member for turning the latter rearwardly into a substantially horizontal position, and projecting means on one of said upstanding side members located in the path of travel of the means carried by said leg engaging member and to abut thereagainst as said leg engaging member approaches its upper limit of travel, said leg engaging member when engaged with the animals stifles co-acting with said buttocks engaging member for turning the animals hind legs rearwardly into a substantially horizontal position.

ALBERT WNETRZAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Sept. 22, 1938 

